Arthur Lyman Easterbrook

Art grew up primarily in and around Dudley/Webster in south-central Massachusetts, working on the family dairy, turkey and apple farm. It was a demanding life full of farm chores for the Easterbrook boys, but this allowed the family to survive several near catastrophes and the Great Depression.

After High School, Art attended Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York attaining his bachelor’s degree in forestry. After graduation, Art entered the United States Army, serving as part of the Army of Occupation of Germany. He attained the rank of Specialist (3) Cartographer, where he was responsible for re-mapping much of post-war Germany. Upon completing his service, Art worked several jobs in the commercial forestry industry in upper Michigan, before returning to school to receive his master’s degree in forestry from the University of Michigan.

Art ultimately became a ranger with the United States Forest Service in Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri, where he served as District Ranger for the Mark Twain National Forest. His final assignment was as chief of recreation for the Hiawatha National Forest, where he played a key role in the preservation of several historic Greats Lakes lighthouses, including interpreting and opening Point Iroquois Light Station for the public. Art was also the driving force behind the Forest Service purchasing Grand Island on Lake Superior from Cleveland-Cliffs Mining Company and opening it as a recreation facility for the public.

On 29 April 1967 Art married Ann Louise Goodwin, (oldest child of Kenneth Clayton and Ruth Rowina (Fletcher) Goodwin). They were married for 53 loving years and raised two sons, Gregg Arthur Easterbrook and Richard Brian Easterbrook in Cadillac and later Gladstone, Michigan, Washburn, Wisconsin and Winona, Missouri.

In retirement, Art and Ann fled the rough winters of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and became snowbirds in their fifth-wheel trailer, following their kids and grandkids around the world and seeking the sun in/around LaBelle and Clewiston, Florida. They finally moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be closer to family.

Art is preceded in death by his wife Ann, his parents, and older brothers Ensign Richard Warren Easterbrook, Ralph Lewis Easterbrook Jr., and Dr. Eliot Knights Easterbrook. He is survived by his sons Gregg and Richard, two daughters-in-law, Ana (Morina) Easterbrook and Dr. Jennifer Coates. He is also blessed with five grandchildren, who thrilled him and gave him ample opportunities to brag: Jessica Jade Easterbrook, Saranda Alexis Easterbrook, and Eric Henry Easterbrook of Dayton, Ohio and Renee Coates Easterbrook and David Coates Easterbrook of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Art and Ann were blessed with the opportunity to travel the country and world and have made many wonderful friends too numerous to mention here. But they cherished these relationships and kept in contact with most.

Art always believed that what really mattered, was the quality time you spent with a person in life, not how you honored them after death. In light of that, and due to the long distances and short notice, the family will not be holding a funeral or memorial service at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Art’s name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://www.lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts